As Thanksgiving approaches, I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on my past experience with this national holiday and speak on how it is celebrated in my family and by many Chinese-Americans. Unlike the rest of my family, I was born in the United States. This means that I grew up with the concept of Thanksgiving, and understood its importance in the history of America and the tradition around it. However, although my parents and grandparents immigrated from China, they too had some understanding about this holiday. Every year, my family would celebrate Thanksgiving, because they understood the importance of giving thanks and the value in having a holiday that brings family together to enjoy this time with. It is not everyday that we get to spend time with those we love, due to distance, work, school, or even the idea of “we will always be available to each other so why bother making the time we spend so special”. The truth is, many of us take our families and those we love for granted, and Thanksgiving reminds us of each other’s importance, by providing the time and ability for us to come together.
In my family, we would celebrate Thanksgiving with a large traditional Chinese meal. Usually, this meant that we had hot pot, a Chinese dining experience where you have a large simmering pot of soup in the middle of the table, accompanied by many raw ingredients or “dishes” around it. This dining method allows everyone at the table to be a participant in cooking. The soup would consist of broth and typical ingredients such as pepper, spices, and vegetables for stock. Common side dishes include raw thinly sliced beef and pork, shrimp, raw vegetables, fishballs, and dumplings. My favorite part of having hot pot is that everyone becomes interactive in cooking, as well as eating their meal.
Hopefully in a couple weeks, you will all be reminded of those you hold close, and who you would like to celebrate with. If you are lucky to have these people available to you often, it is still a good idea to spend time with them, as life is always unexpected and sometimes we miss out on experiences because we take each other’s presence for granted.
